Airplane



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,986

. o. PALMER AIRPLANE Filed Feb. 5 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l O. PALMER Jan. 22, 1929.

AIRPLANE` Filed Feb. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :e4/m mm 30 Vview thereof.

35 .of the body 10 are' rovided 45 teror of the `50 end of the body i and an elevator 18 the operation of which is t in the usual manner.

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

OSCAR PALMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIRPLANE.

Application led February 3, 1928. Serial No. 251,497. i

' b ofthe airplane.

According to this invention the fuselage of the airplane comprises a tubular longitudinal member to which are attached wings. The propeller is mounted within the tubular mem'- n ber Vadjacent its forward end sothat the air pushed backwardly by the propeller passes through the tubular member. ment provides a back air pressure for the propeller to work against, which back pressure is not .present in the ordinary type of airplane and the speed of the plane is thus increased. Cockpits lfor the aviator and navigator are provided in the tubular member near its front end and a cabin for passengers and fuel is suspended from the tubular member at its ends. j

Otherobjects, novel features and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein: i

Figure 1 is a plan View of an airplane embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front view and Fig. 4 is a side The fuselage 10 comprises a tubular body to which are attached near its front end the.y wings 11 which extend at right angles to the axis of the Itubular member` 10. At the ends wheels 12 for use in taking oi an landing, these wheels corresponding to the yusual landing gear of propeller 13 is mounted on an airplane. A a shaft co-axial with the tubular member 10 and is arranged within such tubular member at the front end thereof. .An engine for driving the ropeller 1 3 is located just to the rear of t e propeller. vThe propeller 13 isjust enough less in diameter than the intubular member 10 that it clears the same when rotating. Cockpits 15 and 16 for the aviator and navigator respectively are provided, these cockpits preferably being located adjacent the wings11. At t e rear 10 is provided a rudder 17 controlled by the aviator from his cockpit A cabin 19 for-pas- This arrange# I Stationary laterally extending stabilizers A20 are attached tothe rear endof the body.

In the embodiment of the invention above described thel propeller 13 pushes back through the tubular member of theairplane the air which it displac'es. Since the airis confined within the tubular member a back pressure develops, against which thepropeller works. As the propeller has such back pressure'to work against it is more effective in driving forward the airplane and the speed thereof is increased. The amount of air drawn in by the propeller may be limited by providing at the frontend of the body a cagelike member 21. By means of the rudder 17 and the elevator 18 vertical and horizontal direction of movement of the airplane may be controlled. The cagelike member also` metal such as duraluminum which is eXtremely light and very strong. body 10 and the cabin 19 to be constructed of this metal but the wings may likewise be formed from the same metal.

Although the propeller 13 has been disclosed as located within the tubular member 10, it is apparent that it A'might also be supported a short distance in advance of the front end of such member and substantially the 'same results be obtained.` Moreover it is apparent that various structural modifications may be made in the airplane herein disclosed without in any way .departing .from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: Y v

1. In an airship of the heavier than air type, 'a fuselage comprising a longitudinal continuous tubular member, wings connected directly to said tubular member adjacent the vlfront end thereof and extending laterally Not only is the f the front end thereof, a driving engine for said propeller within said tubular member and closely adjacent the propeller, 'said tubular member being unobstructed rearwardly of the engine, a cockpit above said tubular member and supported thereby adjacent the front end thereof and' a cabin suspended from said tubular member rearwardly of the cockpit. y

sengers, fuel and supplies is suspended from u the body approximately the mi die thereof. 2. In an airship lof the heavier than air type, a fuselage comprising a longitudinal Continuous tubular member, Wings connected vdirectly to said tubular member adjacent the iront end thereofv and extending laterally from said member, a propeller rotatably supported within-said tubular member adjacent the front end thereof, -a driving engine for said propeller Within said tubular member and closely adjacent the propeller, said tubular member being unobstructed rearwardly of the engine,.a cockpit above said tubular member and supported thereby adjacent the front end thereof, a cabin suspended from said `tubular member rearwardly of the cockpit, and a cage like member supported at the front endet said tubular member.

3. In an airship of the heavier than air type, a fuselage comprising a longitudinal continuous tubular member, Wings connected directly to said tubular member adjacent the front end thereof and extending laterally from said member, a propeller rotatably supported Within said tubular member adjacent the lfront end thereof, ajdriving'eng'ine for said propeller Within said tubular member and c osely adjacent the propeller,-said tubular member being unobstructed rearwardly of the engine, a cockpit above said tubular member and supported thereby adjacent the front end thereof, a cabin suspended from said tubular member rearwardly of the-cockpit', a cage like member supported at the front end of said tubularmember, an elevator supported rearwardly of and in alignment with said tubular member and stabilizers extending lat erally from the rear end of said tubular mem- In testimony whereof, I- hav`e signed my name to this specification.

OSCAR PALMER. 

